Manchester City face a battle to keep hold of manager Roberto Mancini. The Mail on Sunday says Mancini has been offered £35million to manage World Cup hosts Russia as contract talks with Manchester City drag into another week.

Sources in Russia claimed on Saturday night that Mancini had agreed to take over the national team in a six-year deal that would see him in charge when they host the World Cup in 2018.

But City quickly rebuffed the story, insisting the Italian will join club players at their preseason training camp in Austria on Sunday and that negotiations over a new contract would be 'concluded' positively in the week.

Russian sports website Sports.ru sensationally claimed Mancini would walk out next week after being given £6m a year by the Russian Football Federation.